Knife-blade switch.



R. LISTER.

KN IFE BLAD E SWITCH. I

APPLICATION FILE D IUNEZT. I917- LQMA% Patented Apr. 30.191sq INVENTOR Rana/a! L/sfer RONALD LISTER, 01E CHURLTON-CUM-HARDY, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOJR, 'JE'O WESTING-HOUSE ELECTRIC & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

KNIFE-BLADE SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent. Pmtwmtnedl Apr. 3%., lltl fllfi.

Application filed June 27, 1917. Serial No. 177,185.

According to my invention, the hinge and contact-jaw members of a knife-blade.

switch areformed of metal strips of substantially lL-shape that are spaced apart and secured to, and supported by, one of more metal strips of lL-shape to constitute a terminal member. In order that the nature of my inventio may be clearly understood, it will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1" is a front elevational view of a switch embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of a single-blade switch having hinge and contact-jaw members constructed in accordance with my mvention; Fig. 3 1s a detail plan view of the hinge-j aw members shown in Figs. 1 and 2; Fig. 4 is a detail side elevational view of a modified form ofhingejaw member embodying my invention; Fig.

5 is a detail side elevational view, and Fig.

6 is a detail plan view illustrating modified forms of jaw members embodying my invention.

In Figsl 1 to 3, inclusive, a switch blade 1 is pivoted to ahinge-jaw member 2 by a bolt 3 and is adapted to engage a contactjaw member 4: when the switchis closed. As the hinge and contact-j aw members are both constructed in a similar manner, the hingejaw member only will be described. The jaw members are constructedof two pieces of metal strip 5 and 6 that are bent to an lL-shape, substantially as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawin s, and arranged with one parallel face 7 o the strip 5 substantially parallel to one face 8 of the strip 6. The strips are spaced a suitable distance apart to receive the switch blade 1 and the other faces 9 and 10 of the strips that are perpendicular to the parallel faces 7 and S are located in substantially the same plane.

Another pair of strips 11 and 12 of substantially lL-shape are arranged similarly to the contact strips above described, but their parallel faces are closer and preferably in contact with each other, as shown at 13 in a Fig. 2. The two perpendicular faces 14 and 15 are located opposite to and touching the faces 9 and 10 of the contact strips 5 and-6. Tn the drawings, the parallel faces 7 and 8 of the contact strips 5 and 6 are arranged with their planes perpendicular to the parallel faces of the strips 11 and 12 that are in contact along the line 13, but the two pairs of strips may be arranged otherwise and with the planes of their parallel faces par allel if so desired. The four stripsare so secured together by means of bolts 16 which pass through the switch base or panel 17 as to hold the jaw member firmly in position thereon. The parallel portions of the strips 11 and 12 project through the base or panel parallel with the bolts 16 forming a termir V nal to which-the'switch leads may be di rectly secured. The planes of the terminal parts of the strips are horizontal in the arrangement shown in the drawings but it is clear that the strips 11 and 12 may be rotated through a right angle around a horizontal axis in order that. the planes of their terminal parts may be vertical without interfering with the manner in which the contact strips are secured to the supporting strips.

To improve the appearance of the switch, the portions of the L-shaped pieces that are applied to the base or panel may be covered by a metal cap, as shown at 18 said cap, which is preferably pressed to s ape, being located under the heads of the bolts 16.

In Fig. 1 of the drawings, two strips 5 and 6. of substantially lL-shape that form a switch jaw member are supported by a single lL-shaped strip to one limb 19 of which the jaw member is secured, while the other limb 20 projects through the switch base or panel. The limb 20 may obviously be plane parallel to said plane. In this modi- 7 single bolt, as shown.

In Figs. 5 and6' of the drawii1gs, a pair of hingeaw members for a knife blade switch having two blades is illustrated. The contact strips 21, 22,23 and 24am nested in such a manner as to permit of a single bolt 25 passing through a suitable number of strips in order tosecure them to the base (not shown); The supporting strips 26,

. 27, 28 and 29, as shown in Fig. 5 of the rawings, are equal in number to the contact strips,- being of substantially L shape and nested in a similar manner. The two pairs of supporting strips 26 and 27 may be spaced apart from .the strips 28 and 29, if desired, or the dimensions may be such that their parallel faces shall be touching.

Obviously, the.number of L-shaped sup porting strips may beffdiflerent from the number of thecontact strips or the latter may be secured to a single L-shaped strip in the manner. hereinbefore described with reference to Fig. 4 o the drawings.

.My invention lsnot limited to the-particular construction illustrated, but may be variously modified without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention as set forth the appendedclaims.

ber of L-shape having its shorter legopera tively connected to the shorter legs of the other conducting members to constitute a terminal member.

3. A knife-blade switch comprising a plurality of members of L-shape some or which are spaced apart to constitute jaw members and others of which are secured thereto to constitute a terminal member.

4:. A knife-blade switch comprising a pliz-l rality of conducting members of-,L-shape having arms of different lengths, some of K said members having their relatively long arms spaced apart to constitute jaw members and others of said members having their relatively short arms connected to the relatively short arms of the jaw' members to constitute terminal members.

rality of conducting members of L-shape spaced apart to constitute a jaw member and a conducting member of L-shape seconstitute a terminal member.

6. A switch member comprising a plurality of conducting members of L-shape spaced apart to constitute a jaw member and a conducting member of L-shape having one of its legs secured to one leg of each of the other members of L-shape to constitute a terminal member. 7. A- switch member comprising a plurality of conducting members of L-shapc spaced apart to constitute a jaw member, a conducting member of L-shape having one of its legssecured to one leg of each of the other members of L-shape to constitute a terminal member and a cap member for the legs that are secured together.

8. A switch member comprising a plurality of conducting members of L-shape having certain of the arms thereof separated to constitute a jaw member and one or more similar members secured to the other arms of the jaw member to constitute a terminal member.

9. A switch member comprising a plurality of conducting members of L-shape spaced apart to constitute a jaw member and a conducting member having twoportions at substantially right angles with respect t6 each other, one of said portions being secured to the members of L-shape to,

rality of conducting members having arms 5. A switch member comprising a pluofdiflerent lengths, some of said members having their relatively l011' arms spaced apart to constitute jaw mem ers and others of said members having their relatively short arms connected to the relatively short arms of the jaw members to constitute ter minal. members.

' In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 25th day of May,

RONALD LISTER. 

